IF YOU ARE WANTING LICENSURE CREDIT, YOU WILL NEED TO SELECT AND PAY FOR A PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION ON YOUR CONFERENCE REGISTRATION.
Pre-conference sessions are scheduled for Sunday, November 3 from 3pm to 5pm (exact timing subject to change).
Pre-conference participants will select one session and pay for your pre-conference session on the conference registration form. Cost for a pre-conference session is $55 and must be marked on your registration form.
TENTATIVE Pre-Conference Schedule
Time Title Presenter
3pm to 5pm New Counselor Session -- Aimee Hospodarsky & Sue Schirmer, AEA
3pm to 5pm Crisis Co-Regulation -- Brittany Roberts, Four Oaks Family & Children's Services
3pm to 5pm Advocacy Toolkit for School Counselors -- Dr. Erin Lane, University of Iowa, Lauren Cerqueira, School Counselor, Jefferson Fink, Attorney Lobbyist, & Jim Obradovich, ISCA Lobbyist
PRECONFERENCE SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
New Counselor Session
This session, specifically designed for those in the first years of their school counseling careers, will help new school counselors learn how to lead with confidence and resilience. By understanding background and context of where school counselors fit into education in Iowa, to building networks, to learning about resources, we will come away with a better understanding of how and where to access support so that we can be Rooted in Resilience in school counseling. Those who pre-register for this session may be asked for input so that the session can be tailored as much as possible to the group needs.
Presented by: Aimee Hospodarsky, K-5 School Counselor Consultant, Grant Wood AEA & Other AEA Representative
Crisis Co-Regulation
Part 1: "Becoming the Regulated, Calm Adult"
Dr. Bruce Perry shares that a "regulated, calm adult can regulate a dysregulated, anxious child but a dysregulated adult can never calm a dysregulated child." Neuroscience and our own experiences have shown this to be true again and again. School mental health can be improved more quickly if adults lead the way by modeling regulation, recognizing dysregulation, and valuing mindfulness of it. But how do we actually stay regulated in tough situations?
This session will focus on naming our activators, what that looks like for us, and determining actions and strategies to keep us regulated in the heat of the moment. Each participant will walk away with either a regulation plan to attach to lanyard or a sticker to place on their laptop. This is a process that can be important for all staff in school settings. Adults go first, and their own mental health is greatly improved by paying attention to regulation and what dysregulates them. When students see this lived out, that creates a new norm for what being a well-rounded, healthy adult looks like.
Learning Targets:
-Reflect on importance of adult regulation
-Determine and recognize activators and what our dysregulation looks like
-Craft a regulation plan to use in moments of dysregulation
-Apply process to needs noticed in district
Part II: "Teaching Other Adults to Use Their Calm to Meet Storms"
It's hard for most of us to witness other people's pain and dysregulation. As educators, we think it reflects poorly on us when someone in our presence is having a hard time, so we try to fix it or stop it. But dysregulation is like a tunnel: the only way through is through. During this session, we’ll discuss what’s going on in the brain during dysregulation, how we can help teachers stay regulated during these events, and the specific micro-skills needed to provide the support for students that reduces stress and risk and increases safety.
Learning Targets:
-Review ways to maintain self-regulation during a crisis
-Reflect on 4 micro-skills to use in the moment, including what to say or not say
-View and reflect on real-life instances of co-regulation
Presented by: Brittany Roberts, Four Oaks Family & Children's Services
Brittany Roberts is the Professional Learning Coordinator with Four Oaks Education. Brittany's background is in public school education, where she served as a high school teacher and instructional coach. She focuses on implementing best classroom practices in social-emotional learning, trauma-informed care, and other aspects of wellness and regulation. With her teaching background, Brittany is well-versed in helping school systems to embed TIC and SEBH practices into academic instruction. She is a certified trainer in IIRP (International Institute for Restorative Practices) and Youth Mental Health First Aid. She is very passionate about helping adults practice a work/life balance, emotional regulation, and self-awareness in order to model real strategies and thinking for students.
Advocacy Toolkit for School Counselors
Join us in this session to learn how to advocate for yourself and your students! Walk away with tools and strategies to help you navigate the complexities of the ever-changing legislative landscape with your role as a counselor and advocate for students in your district. You won't want to miss this important session!
Presented by: Dr. Erin Lane, University of Iowa, Lauren Cerqueira, ISCA Advocacy Chair & School Counselor, Jefferson Fink, Attorney at Law